Odd Troop Loading Behavior

[ADavidB]

Every once in a while I find myself in a situation where I can't use the "load troops" option for loading a transport and only the "load only troops" option is active. What happens is that I form a transport TF and assign some troops to it with the "load troops" command. (I tend to use the "load troops" command for most situation since it also brings some supplies along for the ride.) But every once in a while when I make a second transport TF in the same hex and same turn, I find that the "load troops" option is "faded out" for the second TF. I can disband that TF and form a new one from other ships, but the same thing occurs. But if I wait until the next turn I then can make one or more transport TFs, all of which have the "load troops" option active.

This doesn't happen frequently, and as I mentioned, it seems to clear itself within a turn, but it sure is odd. Does anyone have any explanations for this?

Thanks -

Dave Baranyi

[pasternakski]

I've seen this, too, and I think someone posted about it a couple of weeks ago. If I remember right, if you just click on "load only troops" for the second TF, then go back to the TF screen, "load troops" is available. At least I think that works.

[ADavidB]

Originally posted by pasternakski
I've seen this, too, and I think someone posted about it a couple of weeks ago. If I remember right, if you just click on "load only troops" for the second TF, then go back to the TF screen, "load troops" is available. At least I think that works.

Okay, thanks, I'll try that next time.

Dave Baranyi

[Caltone]

Or click on "unload" in the TF with the grayed out button and that seems to clear it.

[ADavidB]

Originally posted by Caltone
Or click on "unload" in the TF with the grayed out button and that seems to clear it.

Huh? Tres etrange... okay, thanks, I'll try that too.

Dave Baranyi

[bilbow]

Or click "load supplies", and the button lights up.

[Grotius]

I've had a slightly different problem. My troops all just unloaded in the middle of the ocean. <sigh> I'd given my Transport TFs -- really an armada -- a "waypoint" destination, and the transports reached the waypoint quicker than I thought they would. So they unloaded into the water. Two whole divisions. Trouble is, now I can't load 'em back onto the transports.

Fortunately, I'm playing against the AI, so I can reload. Unfortunately, my closest save is about 15 turns back. <louder sigh>

[pasternakski]

"So they unloaded into the water."

Wow. This may be a big one. If transports can unload in mid-ocean merely because they were ordered to that hex as an intermediate destination, there are big problems with the basic coding of UV that need immediate attention. I have never seen this phenomenon because I have never ordered a transport TF to an ocean hex on the way to an ultimate destination, so I have no first-hand information.

[Grotius]

Hi Pasternaski,

Well, in another thread Drongo explained to me that Transport TFs can unload in any "coastal" hex, as indicated by F2, even if there's no "dot" (or even any land symbol) in the hex. And indeed my guys were probably in a "coastal" hex; I'll have to check with F2. They were a hex or two west of Shortland Island, but definitely NOT on a dot hex. (It looks pretty funny on the map: the standard red infantry "X" symbol on a patch of blue water.) It's hard to imagine wanting ever to land on a dot-less hex, but it's interesting to know it's possible. In any case, it doesn't strike me as a game-killing bug.

The workaround is not to set waypoints, or not to set waypoints in "coastal" (but dot-less) hexes, or to set distant waypoints. I do use waypoints all the time, because I often don't like the direct path to my ultimate destination. I just will have to be more careful about which waypoint to choose.

In the meantime, I have to pass out some snorkels to my boys.